Prompt #9

Another critical issue is Issue #10: Memorization in the Digital Age. While I think there are some things that still should be memorized, for the most part I believe we don't need to memorize facts in the digital age. I do think we still need to know the very basic facts we learn early on in life, such as the meanings of words and numbers, big effects in history, or how to do daily tasks. I also think we need to know how to use both the technological and physical tools around us that can help us gain new information. However, once we have this small foundation, I don't think there's a need for straight forward memorization. We have all the information we need at our finger tips thanks to today's technology; what's more important is that we are able to understand and apply it. Like it was pointed out, straight memorization without understanding why things are true or important does not stay in our memory for long. There will likely never be a time we have to recall the names of every bone in our body, the capital of Delaware, or the exact date George Washington was elected president, without our smart phone nearby. What we will have to do is know how to access correct information quickly when we need it and understand its real and potential effects on our lives.

Yet my opinion – that most facts memorized in school are unnecessary – is only theoretical due to the many national and state standards for curricula and the stress on standardized testing. Because of factors like these, it makes it nearly impossible to get to college and be hired for a career without memorizing all these facts.